US PresswireDevils goalie Johan Hedberg makes a save on Dallas Stars center Tom Wandell and center Aaron Gagnon during the second period.

DALLAS — If they were scoreboard watching, the Devils were able to see during the second period last night that the Hurricanes and Rangers picked up points in the standings.

By winning in a shootout, the seventh-place Rangers collected two points while the eighth-place Hurricanes earned one.

That made the Devils’ 1-0 shutout of the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center, which came on a power-play goal from rookie Nick Palmieri with 5:37 remaining, even more vital in their quest for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

“I didn’t know the (Hurricanes) scored. I tried to stay focused on our game,” Palmieri said. “But we definitely checked after the game. That’s obviously a big point to gain. Every point means something for us.”

The Devils are 16-1-2 in their last 19 games. They trail the Hurricanes by nine points and the Rangers by 12.

They were 27 points out of a playoff spot on Jan. 8. If they do go on to claim a playoff spot it would be the biggest such comeback under the NHL’s current format since the 1993-94 Islanders came from 12 points back.

“Just like I’ve never seen anything like our first half, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Brian Rolston said.

Goaltender Johan Hedberg posted his second shutout in three games and third of the season as the Devils extended their winning streak to eight in a row, their longest since they won eight straight Oct. 29-Nov. 14 last season.

“I don’t think we played well at all,” coach Jacques Lemaire said. “I thought we made a ton of mental mistakes, which is what I was afraid of. Hedberg played real well. Just in the first period Dallas had probably six or seven good chances. He stood up and made great saves.”

Newly acquired defenseman Alex Goligoski was in the penalty box for Dallas when the Devils broke through late in the game. Ilya Kovalchuk took a Mark Fayne pass but broke his stick on a one-timer.

Palmieri was able to tip the puck past goaltender Kari Lehtonen at 14:23 for his sixth goal of the season.

Kovalchuk’s assist extended his points streak to 11 games. He has scored seven goals and recorded six assists during the streak.

“Kovy broke his stick and it was kind of a slow roller,” Palmieri said. “I tipped it and just got enough on it to get it over (Lehtonen). I was surprised it had enough to get on net.

“It’s my first game-winning goal up here (in the NHL), so that’s probably my biggest goal to date, I’d have to say.”

Hedberg made 19 saves, but he had help on his biggest.

With 2:30 remaining in the second period, Brian Sutherby’s shot was cleared off the goal line by Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov, who was inside the net. Volchenkov reached out and put his hand on the goalie’s stick paddle just as the puck hit it. Hedberg fell on the puck in the crease as the Devils dodged a bullet.

“It hit his stick but I pushed it forward. Great save my me,” Volchenkov said with a laugh. “I was behind (Hedberg) pushing his stick with my right hand.”

Hedberg said: “I saw (Volchenkov). I think he pushed my paddle back to make sure it didn’t go into the net. I think I got it with my paddle but if I didn’t have it, he would’ve stopped it.”

There seems to be no stopping the Devils, who have 22 games remaining and one in hand on the Hurricanes.